Imagine knowing exactly what you were born to do. Recent Seaver College graduate Christin Wismann was lucky enough to realize her passions and God-given gifts at a very early age. Her deep love for music and remarkable stage presence have enabled her to become an award-winning and rising opera star, and given her the opportunity to attend The Julliard School’s master of music in voice program.

Christin recalls that music played an important role in her childhood. So did family and friends who encouraged and pushed her to explore the vast world of music. In fourth grade, Christin auditioned for the talent show at her elementary school, Los Primeros, in her hometown, Camarillo, California. Impressed with her rendition of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, the school principal requested that Christin sing in front of the entire school. Christin did not realize at the time that she was not like most children her age; they would not have had the desire or the ability to sing on demand in front of more than 100 fellow students.

This talented young woman carried her passion for music to high school, where she was accepted into the advanced jazz choir. The jazz choir provided Christin with the vocal and musical building blocks that remain part of her core music background today. After spending her high school years in the choir and gaining extensive performing experience when traveling across the world with the group, Christin made the decision to continue studying music in college.

While studying at UC Santa Barbara for a year and a half, Christin’s love of singing was inhibited by negative experiences she had while studying under the school’s music department and faculty members. Fortunately, a friend recommended she look into transferring to Pepperdine University for her remaining years of school. Upon visiting Pepperdine, speaking with faculty and staff, and saying many prayers, Christin made the tough decision to attend Seaver College. “That was probably the best decision I could have ever made,” she reflects. “My life was forever changed.”

Under the instruction of Pepperdine’s expert music department faculty, Christin discovered her niche in classical music. This music genre moved her in a different direction than jazz, challenging her to transform her voice, style, repertoire, and attitude. “I found myself consumed by classical music, I couldn’t get enough. I had caught what the classical singing world calls the opera bug,” says Christin.
A hard worker, she enjoyed the challenge and difficulty of learning to sing new languages and a foreign repertoire. Christin credits the outstanding Pepperdine faculty such as her current voice coach Kathleen Roland-Silverstein, and director of the Flora L. Thornton Opera Program Dr. Henry Price, with playing a key role in her ability to take on a new musical style. “Transferring to Pepperdine enabled me to work with some of the best teachers and coaches out there right now. They have always encouraged me and made me feel good about the work I was doing, while at the same time, provided the perfect balance of constructive criticism to help me get better.” She admits that finding a good teacher is a difficult task because many never find that perfect balance that she was so fortunate to find at Pepperdine. “The atmosphere at Pepperdine is so positive, the faculty is not out to help you for their own personal agendas. They genuinely care.”

During her two and a half years at Pepperdine, Christin was awarded for her hard work and signature sound on many occasions. In October 2005, she competed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council’s Western Regional Competition and was named the Special Award Recipient. Two months later, she went on to win First Place in the National Opera Association Vocal Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Christin returned to California to win the New West Symphony’s Discovery Artist Award for 2005 to 2006. As the top vocalist, Christin was honored to perform as a solo artist with the symphony during their next season. Her most recent accomplishment was being accepted to The Julliard School’s master’s degree program in April 2006.

Closing another chapter in her life, Christin, 22, was recently given the honor of singing the national anthem in front of her classmates and their families during the Spring 2006 Seaver College graduation ceremony. Before taking the stage, there were a million things running through her mind: the words, the rhythm, her posture, her appearance, and so much more. But her confidence and experience led her onstage, one foot in front of the other, while focusing on her breath and the once-in-a-lifetime experience rather than on the music.

“You step out in front of the podium and gaze onto the thousands of people in front of you and suddenly, you’re home. Every muscle in your body begins to relax and you begin to sing,” describes Christin. While performing, she realized she knew exactly what she was doing, and suddenly the song was over. “You’re walking on air as you make it back to your seat. Your heart’s still pounding, you have the biggest smile on your face, and you realize, once again, why you do this. It’s a feeling like nothing else in the world.”

Yes, Christin has harnessed the art of performing, connecting with her audience, and revealing her personality. She relishes the euphoric feeling that performing to a room full of strangers gives her. “It’s hard to explain, but for that brief moment you are in front of all those people, you become very intimate with them. It’s like letting them in on a secret and exposing your heart all at once,” Christin observes. “It’s a perfect balance of vulnerability and confidence. Performing can be so telling of a person’s true character because you can’t have too much of one or the other. It can be a lot of pressure, but when all is said and done, there’s no other feeling like it. It’s a rush and I thank God every day for letting me be a part of something so amazing.”

Christin credits her parents as being her biggest supporters and pillars of strength in her life and career. Pushing her to achieve her goals, Christin’s parents taught her that anything is possible. Older sister Becky, also a singer, introduced Christin to singing at an early age, in turn opening a door that will never be shut. Of course, her teachers and coaches also have enriched her career potential to unseen heights, enabling her to reach many of her goals and dreams. But, Christin emphasizes, God is truly the most influential figure in her life. She humbly admits that without God, none of what she has achieved would have been possible: “Everything I do, and every note I sing, is for him and in his name.”

By Molly Drobnick
Pepperdine People Magazine